Rett Syndrome

Term Paper # 110415

Medical and Health

Rett Syndrome

An overview of the cause, diagnosis and treatment of Rett syndrome.

1,551 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that appears to affect females predominately and is considered the second most common cause of a severe mental retardation in females after Down syndrome The paper looks at what is known of the causes of the syndrome and discusses its diagnosis, characteristics, and methods of treatment. It concludes that ideally, family, teachers, and therapists can get together to create common goals for action that favor girls with Rett syndrome. The plan should have small, specific steps that can be applied to a daily routine.

Outline:
Introduction
Cause of Rett Syndrome
Diagnosis & Characteristics
Communication in Person with Rett Syndrome
Role of Parents and Environment
Treatment of Rett Syndrome
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Concerning the academic life of girls with Rett, they can be seen in all kinds of classrooms, going from special education units to full inclusion in regular schools. However, the affected areas of the language can have a direct impact on the academic functioning. Because of the poor pragmatic skills, these girls will have difficulties maintaining a conversation or focusing in a topic, and that will decrease their comprehension. Also, their speech will not be meaningful enough. Semantically, symptoms such as word finding difficulties or inappropriate answers for questions are a major factor of a poor expressive language. Regarding the syntax and morphology, they are expected to have problems with utterances construction and poor use of grammatical rules. Moreover, they have an abnormal response to sensory stimuli, such as hand mouthing or watching the ground while talking, and that can affect their discrimination and focusing on the main ideas."

Sample of Sources Used:

Ellaway, C., & Christodoulou, J. (2001). Rett Syndrome: Clinical Characteristics and Recent Genetic Advances. Disability and rehabilitation, 23 (3/4), 98-106.
International Rett Syndrome Association. (2006). Retrieved October 9, 2006, from http://www.rettsyndrome.org
Keer, A., & Burford, B. (2001). Towards a Full Life with Rett Disorders. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 4 (4), 157-168.
Mount, B., Hastings, R., Reilly, S., Cass, H., & Charman, T. (2001). Behavioral and Emotional Features in Rett Syndrome. Disability and Rehabilitation, 23 (3/4), 129-138.
National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.nichd.nih.gov